Jagan warns of launching stir for Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation scheme

YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has said that the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation (RLI) scheme will be completed at “lightning speed” once the party returns to power.

The party will also continue its legal and political fight against “privatisation” of government medical colleges, he asserts.

Addressing the media on Thursday, Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy said the RLI scheme was critical not only for the drought-prone Rayalaseema region but also for the entire State, as it ensured access to Krishna river waters.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had placed personal interests above State’s welfare. Neither Mr. Naidu nor Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu condemned Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s statement in the Telangana Assembly claiming that Mr. Naidu had agreed to halt the project at his request, the YSRCP chief said.

Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy said that in 2015, Telangana drew more than 8 TMC of water per day from Srisailam, while Mr. Naidu remained silent. Telangana had enhanced the Kalwakurthy Lift capacity from 25 TMC to 50 TMC, initiated the Palamuru–Rangareddy project to draw water from the 777-foot level, and undertook works to divert 40 TMC through the SLBC from the 825-foot level.

The present NDA government was shelving the RLI scheme, he alleged. The YSRCP would launch agitations for the project, he warned, and vowed to complete it if the party comes to power. He asserted that he never intended harm to Telangana, but would not accept injustice to Andhra Pradesh.

Bhogapuram airport

On the Bhogapuram airport, Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy accused Mr. Naidu of attempting to claim credit for work done by the YSRCP government. He alleged that the TDP had initially proposed to acquire 15,000 acres for the airport and later reduced it to 5,000 acres, triggering public unrest.

The YSRCP government, he claimed, developed a world-class international airport with an aerocity on 2,703 acres, resolved 130 court cases, relocated 400 families, and spent ₹ 960 crore on land acquisition. All central approvals, NOCs, and financial tie-ups were secured during the YSRCP tenure, and the foundation stone was laid on May 3, 2023, with flights expected to begin in 2026, he claimed.

The former Chief Minister rejected claims that the State’s debt reached ₹14 lakh crore, stating that borrowings during the YSRCP period grew at a slower rate and that ₹2.74 lakh crore was directly transferred to beneficiaries through welfare schemes.

He alleged that the present government borrowed ₹3.02 lakh crore in 18 months, imposed steep hikes in power tariffs, registration charges, and road cess, and presided over widespread corruption and revenue leakage across the State.